This week’s parsha has a very interesting word: M-Sh-T-A-H. The entire phrase is: “ve-ha-ish mishtaeh lah.” The man is Eliezer and the “lah” refers to

Among the ancient texts found in the Dead Sea region are both biblical and non-biblical texts. In this column, I am going to focus on

Nowhere in Tanach is anyone counting the year from Creation. What is the origin of this counting method? As further background, if one looks at

We all wonder about those long lifespans recorded at the beginning of Genesis. For example, we are told that Adam lived 930 years, that Shet

My father passed away on September 2, at the age of 91. I wanted to share his life story. He was born in Brooklyn in

Many interesting words come up in the context of the High Holidays. (Many of the paytannim enjoyed using rare words!) I will discuss a few

The Torah gives very little explanation of the holiday that we call today Rosh HaShanah. The Torah calls it only “yom teruah” (in Parshat Pinchas)

It is routinely taken for granted that the concept of tikun olam is integral to Aleinu. It turns out that this is probably not the

During the haftarah reading of parshat Va’era, we are all jarred when this king’s name is read with that middle “R.” What is going on

This phrase is used as a description of God at Psalms 68:5. From here, it made its way into the Baruch Kel Elyon song. But

We are all used to reciting this prayer (Psalm 30) around the time of Baruch She’amar. The recital of Baruch She’amar in daily Shacharit is